CANTEMIR, Demetrius, son of a prince of Moldavia,
was born in 1673, and died in 1723. On his father's death,
though not permitted to succeed to the throne of Moldavia,
lie continued faithfully to serve the Turks, distinguishing
himself in many campaigns, and acquiring the Oriental as
well as the European languages, of which he became a great
master. In 1710 he was at last appointed prince of
Moldavia, in order to aid in resisting the threatened
invasion of Peter the Great. Convinced of the approaching
ruin of the Turks, Canteinir joined the Czar, and shared
in the campaign of 1711 on the Pruth, which proved so
humiliating to Russia. On the conclusion of jeace, Peter,
who had refused to give up his ally to the victorious
Turks, took him with him to Russia, where he lived till
his death, assisting the Czar in his wars, and in great favour
with him. He wrote several works, the most important being
a history of the growth and decay of the Ottoman empire.